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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Google+ Hangout Oct. 5 with NASA Administrator and SpaceX CEO

WASHINGTON, D.C.
-- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will
discuss the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the International
Space Station during a Google+ Hangout from 1-1:30 p.m. EDT Friday, Oct.
5. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon cargo spacecraft are
scheduled to lift off at 8:35 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7 from at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Bolden and Musk will
talk about the flight, which will be the first of 12 contracted for NASA
by SpaceX to resupply the space station. The SpaceX flights under the
Commercial Resupply Services contract will restore an American
capability to deliver and return significant amounts of cargo, including
science experiments, to the orbiting laboratory -- a feat not
achievable since the retirement of the space shuttle.

Followers on Twitter may ask a question in advance of or during the
event using the hashtag #askNASA. On NASA Facebook and Google+, a
comment thread will open for questions on the morning of the event. To
join the hangout, visit the NASA's Google+ page:

The Dragon will be filled with about 1,000 pounds of supplies. This
includes critical materials to support the 166 investigations planned
for the station's Expedition 33 crew, including 63 new investigations.
The Dragon will return about 734 pounds of scientific materials,
including results from human research, biotechnology, materials and
educational experiments, as well as about 504 pounds of space station
hardware.